Children's video.

`Spot' Throws The Kids A Very Appetizing Bone

May 14, 1998|By Scott Blakey, Entertainment News Service.

One of our favorite canines is back after something of an hiatus. "Spot and his Grandparents Go to the Carnival" (Walt Disney Home Video, 1998, animation, color, 30 minutes, closed captioned, $12.99), is one of several new releases and it's a perfect spring video for children 2 to 5. Most of the others are Pooh, which is, frankly, how I view most of that series.

Spot, the little golden pup with the big brown spot, is the creation of British author and illustrator Eric Hill, who retains quality control of these videos, as well as the merchandise that spins off of them. Hill has sold more than 25 million Spot books, and the videos, wonderfully produced by England's King Rollo Studios Ltd., are faithful to his work. Simple multimedia artwork, funny little stories, bright colors, a gentle atmosphere and high quality make them perfect for the very young.

The title story here finds Spot visiting his grandmother and grandfather, a retired fireman. They are planning a trip to the carnival.

The house is full of the smell of baking cookies, which are being decorated for the big carnival parade. Grandpa regales the pup with tales of smoke and cinders, and he and Spot look through an old photo album.

Grandpa gets out his old concertina, and he and grandma sing about the blessings of togetherness.

When Spot's friends -- Helen the little blue hippo, Tom the crocodile and Steve the monkey -- drop by, the old folks take them all to the carnival in Grandpa's old fire truck.

This is a joyous little video with more songs than are usually found in the series.

The video comes with special "lift-the-flap" packaging, but also -- beware -- a promo flacking other Disney children's videos.

For parents (and nippers) new to this series, here's a retrospective of some earlier "Spot" titles, all of which are available:

"Where's Spot?" (Walt Disney Home Video, 1993, animation, color, 30 minutes, closed captioned, $14.98) was the premiere "Spot" video and, in my estimation, one of the finest children's videos ever conceived. Produced by King Rollo Films, "Where's Spot?" used Hill's trademark superb animation and colorful minimalist art and combined them with gentle music and droll storytelling. The video follows the book of the same name exactly. Four other tales complete the video.

"Spot Goes to the Farm" (WDHV, 1993, animation, color, 30 minutes, closed captioned, $12.99), the second installment in the series, finds Spot's dad, Sam, taking his son to the farm where he works so that Spot can meet the baby animals there. But where are they? "Don't tell me, Dad," woofs the pup, "let me try to find them." Notice the perfect grammar. Other stories on this video include tales of Spot's trip to the circus and his first overnight away from his parents.

"Spot Goes to a Party" (WDHV, 1994, animation, color, 30 minutes, closed captioned, $12.99), wherein Spot receives an invitation to a costume party at his friend Helen's home, came next. Spot goes as a cowboy, and two other friends come as one inside a horse costume. They give Spot a ride home. Other stories take young viewers along with Spot to a county fair, a picnic and on a trip.

"Sweet Dreams, Spot" (WDHV, 1995, animation, color, 30 minutes, closed captioned, $12.99) covers some of life's essential little pleasures (and dangers). Spot takes a tour of the garden but gets into trouble when he strays outside the fence. In another storiy, he loses his favorite bone.